Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-16697 · Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Airplanes
Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Airplanes
This AD applies to Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. P-180.
The models as the FAA's AD index lists them. The serial ranges, installed parts and exceptions are in the AD itself: read it at the FAA.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that will supersede an existing AD. This emergency AD was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A (Piaggio) Model PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: Prompted by reports of water accumulated in the lower part of the fuselage on a number of Piaggio Model P.180 aeroplanes, which resulted in jamming of the flight controls, on 17 December 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the authority of the State of Registry of the affected aeroplanes, issued Emergency AD 2011-01-51 to require an immediate functional test of the fuselage drain holes and a report of the results to the FAA. That AD was later superseded, on 20December 2010, by FAA Emergency AD 2011-01-53. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could, when the aeroplane reaches and holds an altitude where the temperature is below the freezing point, cause the flight controls to freeze and jam, possibly resulting in loss of control of the aeroplane. Since these AD actions were taken, Piaggio Aero Industries, the type design approval holder and manufacturer of these aeroplanes, have published Alert Service Bulletin (SB) 80-0324, which describes the same inspection, testing and correction instructions as contained in the FAA Emergency AD. EASA AD 2010-0269-E required the inspection and functional testing of the fuselage drain holes, corrective actions depending on findings, and reporting of the findings to Piaggio Aero Industries. Following issuance of EASA AD, another event of in-flight blockage of flight controls was reported by an operator. The aeroplane was already compliant with EASA AD 2010-0269-E, and during accomplishment of the AD required inspection no discrepancies had been noted, nor water or ice accumulation were reported. As a consequence, additional drain holes were not drilled. This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.
